Thread holder and remover for weft replenishing looms



Dec. 26, 1944. E. A. SANTON 2,365,844

THREAD HOLDER AND REMOVER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed April 15, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 26, 1944. E. A. SANTON V THREAD HOLDER AND REMOVER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS Filed April 15, 1944 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 26, 1944. E, A, AN OQ 2,365,844

THREAD HOLDER AND REMOVER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LOOMS FiledLApril 15, 1944 s Sheets-Sheet s g uufl jf LA Patented Dec. 26, 1944 THREAD HOLDER AND REMOVER FOR WEFT REPLENISHING LooMs Elliot A. Santon, Worcester, Mass, assignor to Crompton & Knowles Loom Works, Worcester, Mass, a corporation of Massachusetts Application April 15, 1944, Serial No. 531,171

19 Claims. (Cl. 139--257) This invention relates to improvements in thread controls for the weft ends extending from the magazine of aweft replenishing loom and it is the general object of the invention to provide means by which a thread leading from a thread holder to the selvage subsequent to a replenishing operation of the loom may be removed after it is outat the selvage,

In weft replenishing mechanisms more particularly of the multicolor type it is necessary to provide an anchorage for the weft ends which extend from the reserve bobbins in the magazine. At the time of transfer the ibwest bobbin in a stack is moved down from the magazine into a shuttle and carries its weft end to a low position detached from the group of weft ends leading to' the thread holder. When the shuttle is picked the weft end of the freshly transferred bobbin extends from the holder through the warp shed and at the subsequent beat-up the thread is bound in to the cloth at the selvage. Several picks thereafter the temple cutter cuts the thread at the selvage, and the thread drops on the weft detector and other parts of the loom. After repeated transfers these threads collect in sufficient numbe to interfere with the operation of the loom.

It is an important object of my present invention to provide retrieving means, such as a pair of rotating thread engaging geared members, located below the group of weft ends extending from the magazine to the thread holder but in such position as to engage the descended weft end of the transferred bobbin and draw it away from the selvage and deliver it at a point where it cannot interfere with loom operation.

A well-known form of thread holder employs a pair of rotating tensioning gears which engage the weft ends to hold them taut above the path of the lay. It is another object of my present invention to employ this second pair of gears for the purpose not only of tensionin the weft ends the tensioning gears. Such a'diiferenoe in speed may conveniently be effected by means of aworm and warm wheel, the worm being driven by some form of'actuator'such as an electric motor and leading from the'magazine but also hold them sioning gears and the retrieving gears, because of their fast motion, move the thread toward the tensioning gears faster than the latter can take it up.v It is another object of my present invention to provide means which will define a space or compartment to receive the out descended weft end from the retrieving gears and hold it until it can be removed by the slower turning tensioning gears. The compartment is defined in part by a thread guard which prevents the group of weft ends from falling onto the retrieving gears.

With these and other objects in. view which will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, wherein a convenient embodiment of my invention is set forth, Fig, 1 is a front elevation of the replenishing end of a loom showing my invention applied thereto,

Fig. 2 is a side-elevation of the loom looking in the direction of arrow 2 Fig. 1,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged plan view of the thread holder looking in the direction of arrow. 3, Fig. 1, indicating therelation of the thread holder and retriever to the selvage and two groups of weft ends extending from the magazine, and indicating how the retrieving gears act on a cut descended weft end, r

Fig. 4 is a view similar to the right hand part of Fig. 3 but with the threads and supporting arm omitted,

Fig. 5 is a front elevation looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. 4, and showing the relation of the retrieving gears and the descended weft ing mechanism l2 for actuating a shuttle S.

Looms of the type to which my invention is applied generally operate with several shuttles which in the normal running of the loom occupy the position shown by shuttle S one at a time. A

reserve bobbin magazine M, preferably of the customary four-stack type, is provided with bobbins B from which extend weft ends. In Fig. 2

front and back groups of weft ends W and W are indicated as extending outwardly from the magazine toward a thread holder and retriever unit designated generally at H. During transfer involving any bobbin the latter will be lowered from the magazine-into its shuttleand will detach its weft end from the corresponding group W or W and lower it to a position below the associated group. On the next beat-up of the lay the thread becomes attached to the selvage, and at some later pick of the loom it is cut at the selvage and falls on the lay or some other part Of the loom.

The unit H is provided with front and back tensioning gears G' and G2, respectively, between which the groups W and W of weft ends extend. Rotation of these gears G and G2 hold the weft ends taut and above the lay so that they occupy the position shown in Figs. 1 and 5. The thread control unit is mounted on an arm |4 which is secured in any approved manner to the magazine and extends downwardly and outwardly to afford support for the thread holder.

The matter thus far described is of common construction and may be substantially the same as corresponding parts shown in Payne Patent No. 1.842.731.

In carrying my present invention into effect I make provision for acting on the descended weft end in such a way as to draw it away from the selvage and operating parts of the loom. The invention as set forth herein includes front and back retrieving geared members G3 and G4, respectively, similar to gears G and G2,'set so that their meshing teeth will draw a thread between them as they rotate. Both pairs of gears are mounted on a support 20 which extends forwardly from arm l4 and has provision for rotatably mounting the gears and also holding a gear driving or actuating mechanism. The support 20 may be a casting and has a rear wall 2| secured by screws 22 to arm I4, an outer side wall 23, and top and bottom shelves 24 and 25, respectively, connected to walls 2| and 23.

As shown in Fig. '7 the outer wall 23 has a rear bearing 30 in which turns a short shaft 3| the outer end of which is reduced and enters a recess 32 in the outer face of gear G2. A nut 33 and lock washer 34 clamp tensioning gear G2 against a flange 35 integral with the shaft 3|. A washer 36 and nut 31 on the opposite end of shaft 3| limits outward movement of gear G2 relatively to wall 23 and holds it in proper thread engaging position. Shaft 3| and gear G2 are thus held together and rotate freely in bearing 30.

I Wall 23 also has a forward bearing 40 in which rotates a shaft 4| the outer-end of which has an integral flange 42 and a nut 43 between which is clamped the front tensioning gear G. The other end of shaft 4| has a collar 45 adjustably held thereon by set screw 46 to limit longitudinal movement of shaft 4| in bearing 40, and a worm wheel 41 is secured to shaft 4| in any approved manner, as by set screw 48. When the worm wheel is turned it rotates shaft 4| and forward tensioning gear G, and the latter causes turning of gear G2 with which it meshes.

Top shelf 24 carries a depending bearing 50 vertically aligned with a second bearing up standing from bottom shelf 25. 'A vertical shaft 53 has its upper and lower ends 54 and 55, re-

. sioning gears G' and G2.

spectively, rotatable in top and bottom bearings 50 and 5|, respectively, and a nut 56 clamps gear G3 against a flange 51 integral with the upper shaft end 54, see Figs. 4 and 6. A singl screw thread worm 59 is cut on the larger end 54 of shaft 53 and meshes with worm wheel 41, and is small enough in diameter to pass through bearing 50. A collar 58 pinned on shaft 53 cooperates with flange 51 and bearing 50 to hold the worm in position for proper engagement with the worm wheel.

A second bearing 60 depending from top shelf 24 has journaled therein a shaft 6| provided with a flange 62 against which gear G4 is clamped by a nut 63 on the upper end of shaft 6|. A stop nut 64 threaded on the bottom of shaft 6| prevents improper upward movement of gear G4 but permits it to be turned freely by gear G3 with which it meshes.

In order to provide an actuator or driving mechanism for shaft 53, I provide a small electric motor unit 65 secured at 66 to the underside of shelf 25. This motor is of a type readily available and has a shaft 61 extending into bearing 5| and having a tongue 68 which fits into a transverse slot 69 cut in the bottom of thesmall end 55 of shaft 53. Gearing not shown is contained in a shell 10 forming part of unit 65 and can be varied to drive shaft 61 at any speed suitable for the weft ends. The motor may turn shaft 53 once per second if a gradual retrieving of the cut descended weft end is desired, but if it is desired to draw the cut weft end away from the selvage more rapidly, then the motor unit will be changed to drive shaft 53 at a higher speed, such, for instance, as five revolutions per second. The .worm and worm gear are made to drive the tensioning gears at a much slower rate, such as two revolutions per minute. I do not wish, however, to be limited to the speeds mentioned.

The motor unit 65 is supplied wtih electric power through wires 15 and 16 which lead to a source of electric power not shown but contained in box 11, see Figs. 1 and 2. This source is preferably disconnected from the main power line when the loom or its driving motor not shown are stopped. The wires are shown diagrammatically, but in practice they extend upwardly along arm M and then to box 11.

A low inner thread guard 80 is fastened to the top shelf 24 at 8| and has a top edge 82 between the retrieving gears and the magazine and at a level below the tops of retrieving gears G3 and G4, see Figs. 5 and 6. A second thread guard .85 secured at 86 to the.support 20 has a horizontal floor 81 extending outwardly from the retrieving gears and overhanging part of the ten- Rising from floor 81 is an upright wall 88 formed with an upper edge 89 at a higher level than the tops of gears G3 and G4. The floor 81 and wall 88 form a space or compartment 9|] which-receives a weft end delivered to it by the retrieving gears G3 andG4.

Under normal conditions the groups W and W of weft ends extend over guard or guide 80 and the retrieving gears G3 and G4 without engaging the latter, and are led over the top of wall 88 and then downwardly to the tensioning gears G and G2. Motor 65 causes the horizontal retrieving gears to turn at a relatively fast rate by direct connection through shaft 53, while the worm and worm gear turn the vertical ortensioning gears slowly. I

When a transfer occurs from any of the magazine stacks theselected bobbin is pushed down into the shuttle by transfer mechanism not shown and carries its weft end to a low position belowthe group of which it was previously a part. This descended weft end, marked T in Figs. 1, 3 and 5, either falls on one or another of the gears G3 or G4, see Fig. 1, and is drawn between them to position a by their teeth 93, see dotted line Fig. 3, or is suspended just above these gears in position b, Fig. 5. Either of these two conditions may exist, depending upon the tightness of thread T after its bobbin i transferred.

' Eventually the thread is out at the selvage of fabric F by the temple cutter 95, and if not already engaged by the retrieving gears, falls on the latter and over guard 80 to the dotted line position 0, Fig. 5. Gears G3 and G4, turning in the directions of arrows d, Fig. 4, then move the thread T rapidly into space 90, asindicated by gages thread T will move it to a position between the gears and the latter then move the thread into space 90 and toward the tensioning gears- From the foregoing it'will'be seen that I have provided simple means for retrieving a descending weft end after it is cut at the selvage subsequent to a replenishing operation. When the transferred bobbin descends it may either carry its weft end directly into engagement with the retrieving gears, or the threadmay be suspended just above these gears, but in either event the thread will be in engagement with the gears and be moved outwardly by their teeth at some time subsequent to cutting at the selvage. It will also be seen that the tensioning gears hold the groups of weft endsW and. W above the retrieving gears so that the latter are not able to disturb them. Furthermore, the outer thread guide or guard 85 is so made that it not onlyholds the groups W and W above the retrieving gears, but also provides a space-into which the retrieved thread T can be moved by gears G3 and G4.

Thereafter the tensioning gears act to move the thread T out of the space or compartment 90 to clear the latterfor reception of another thread.

The worm and worm gear mechanism is a convenient means for permitting the retrieving gears to operate at relatively high rates of speed while the tensioning gears operate much more slowly, but I do not wish to be limited tothe worm and its gears as a means for driving the two pairs of threadgears at different rates. The motor 65 is shown as a convenient means 'for driving the gears, but it is obviously not the only form of gear actuator which I may use.

Having thus described my invention it will be seen that changes and modifications may be made therein by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention and I do not wish to be limited'to the details herein disclosed, but what I claim is: i

1. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins. from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shut- 'tle under the magazine causing the weft end I thereof to descend from said group of weft ends,

the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a'pair of meshing thread engaging geared members below and out of engagement with the group of weft ends butlocated to engage the descended weft end, and means to rotate said geared members in a direction to draw said descended weft end between said geared members and away from the selvage after said descended weft end is cut at the selvage.

2. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a roup of weft ends extend,the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the Weft end thereof to descendjfrom said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being out at the selvage, a pair of meshing thread engaging geared members below and out of engagement with the group of weft ends, the descended weft end when moving downwardly engaging said geared members, and means to rotate said geared members in a direction to draw said descended end between said members and away from the selvage after the descended weft end is cut at the selvage..

3. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbin from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of meshing thread engaging geared members below and out of engagement with the group of weft ends but located to engage the descended weft end, and means operating when the descended weft end is in engagement with said geared members to rotate the latter in a direction to draw said descended weft end between said geared membersand continue rotation of the latter after cutting of the weft end to draw the latter away from the selvage.

'4. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of mutually engaging rotatable members below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage the descended weft end, and means to rotate said members in a direction to draw the descended weft ends between said members and away from the selvage after cutting of said descended weft end at the selvage.

5. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at'the selvage, a pair of geared members engaging said group of weft endsand rotating in a direction to tension them, a second pair of geared members rotatable below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage the descended weft end, and means rotating said second pair of geared members in a direction to draw the descended weft end between said second pair of members and away from the selvage after the descended weft end is cutat the selvage. '1

6. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of geared members engaging said group of weft ends and rotating in a direction to tension them, a second pair of geared members rotatable below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage the descended weft end, and means rotating said second pair of geared members more rapidly than the first pair of geared members turn and in a direction to draw the descended weft end between said second pair of members and away from the selvage after the descended weft end is cut at the selvage.

7. In a weft replenishing loom having a magezine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof 'to descend from said group of weft ends, the

descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of geared members engaging said group of weft ends and rotating in a direction to tension them, a second pair of geared members rotatable below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage the descended weft end, and common driving means for said pairs of geared members rotating said second pair of geared members in a direction to draw the descended weft end between said second pair of members and away from the selvage after the descended weft end is cut at the selvage.

8. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of geared members engaging said group of weft ends and rotating in a direction to tension them, a second pair of geared members rotatable below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage the descended weft end, and common driving means for said pairs of geared members rotating said second pair of geared members more rapidly than the first pair of gearedmembers turn and in a direction to draw the descended weft end between said second pair of members and away from the selvage after the descended weft end is cut at the selvage.

' 9. In a weft replenishing loom having a maga-' zine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into ashuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of rotatable meshing geared members below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage said descended weft end, a motor operatively connected to said members and turning them in a direction to draw said descended weft end between them and away from the selvage after, cutting of said descended weft end, and a second pair of rotatable geared members engaging said group of weft ends and turned by a force derived from the motor in a direction aeeaaae to tension said group of weft ends and hold the latter above said first pair of geared members.

10. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventuallybeing cut at the selvage, a pair of rotatable meshing geared members below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage said descend-ed weft end, a motor operatively connected to said members and turning them in a direction to draw said descended weft end between them and away from the selvage after cutting of said descended weft end, a second pair of rotatable geared members engaging said group of weft ends, and a worm and worm wheel mechanism operatively connecting the motor to the second pair of geared members and turning the latter in a direction to tension said group of weft ends and hold the latter above the first pair of geared members.

11. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of rotatable meshing geared members below and out of engagement with said group of weft ends but located to engage said descended weft end, a motor operatively connected to said members and turning them in a direction to draw said descended weft end between them and away from the selvage after cutting of said descended weft end, a second pair of rotatable geared members engaging said group of weft ends, and a worm and worm wheel mechanism operatively connecting the motor to the second pair of geared members and turning the latter slower than the first pair of geared members turn and in a direction to tension said group of weft ends and hold the latter above the first pair of geared members.

12. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend,'the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend and become separated from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being cut at the selvage, a pair of meshing thread engaging geared members below and out of engagement with the group of weft ends, the descended weft end when cut at the selvage falling on one of said geared members, and means rotating said geared members in a direction causing said one member to move the descended weft end toward the other member and thereafter causing said members to draw the weft end between them and away from the selvage.

13. In a weft replenishing loom having a magazine provided with a group of bobbins from which a group of weft ends extend, the lowest bobbin in the group when transferred into a shuttle under the magazine causing the weft end thereof to descend and become separated from said group of weft ends, the descended weft end eventually being out at the selvage, a pair of meshing thread engaging gears, and means turning the gears in such direction that the teeth of each gear which lie between the selvage and a line joining the centers of the gears travel toward the teeth of the other gear located between said line and selvage, the descended weft end falling on one of said gears at a point between said line and selvage and being carried by a tooth of said one gear into engagement with the teeth of the other gear, whereupon said gears drawsaid descended weft end away from the selvage.

14. In a thread holding and retrieving unit having a pair of tensioning gears engaging a group of weft ends extending from a bobbin magazine of a weft replenishing loom and also engaging a thread which has become separated from said group, said gears turning in such directions as to draw said ends and thread in a direction away from the magazine, said unit having a pair of retrievinggears engaging said thread and turning in such directions as to draw said thread away from the selvage after said thread has been cut at the selvage and move said thread toward said tensioning gears, the provision of means defining a thread compartment to receive said thread from the retrieving gears and from which said thread is drawn b-y said tensioning gears.

15. In a thread holding and retrieving unit for a weft replenishing loom having a group of weft ends extending from a bobbin magazine and having a thread which has been detached from said group and is eventually cut at the selvage, a pair of rotating tensioning gearsoperative to draw said weft ends and thread away from the magazine, a pair of rotating retrieving gears operative when engaging said thread to move the latter away from said magazine, a thread guide between said pairs of gears extending to a level above the tops of said retrieving gears and cooperating with said tensioning gears to hold said weft ends above and out of contact with said retrieving gears, and a second thread guide between said magazine and retrieving gears and extending to a leve1 below the tops of said retrieving gears, said thread when out at the selvage falling over said second guide and into engagement with said retrieving gears.

16. In a thread holding and retrieving unit for a weft replenishing loom having a group of weft ends and a thread separated from said group, a pair of rotating tensioning gears operative to draw said weft ends and thread toward said gears, a pair of rotating retrieving gears operative to draw said thread toward said retrieving gears and move said thread toward said tensioning gears, and a thread support betweensaid pairs of gears to receive said thread from said retrieving gears.

17. In a thread hold-ing and retrieving-unit for a weft replenishing loom having a group of weft ends and a thread separated from said group, a pair of rotating tensioning gears operative to draw said weft ends and thread toward said gears, a pair of retrieving gears rotating faster than said tensioning gears and operative 'to draw said thread toward said retrieving gears and move said thread toward said tensioning gears, and a thread support between said pairs of gears to receive said thread from said retrieving gears and hold said thread until the latter is removed from said support by said tensioning gears.

18. In a thread holding and retrieving unit for a weft replenishing loom having a group of weft ends and a thread separated from said group, a pair of rotating tensioning gears operative to tension said weft ends and draw said thread toward said gears at a given rate, a pair of retrieving gears operative to move said thread toward said tensioning gears at a rate faster than said given rate, and means defining a compartment between said pairs of gears to receive said thread from said retrieving gears and hold said thread until it is removed from said compartment by said tensioning gears.

19. In a thread holding and retrieving, unit for a weft replenishing loom having a thread extending from said unit toward the selvage, two pairs of meshing thread engaging and thread moving gears separated by a thread receiving space, one of said pairs of gears being nearer the selvage than the other pair, and means rotating said one pair of gears at a fast rate and rotating the other pair of gears at a slow rate and turning both of said pairs of gears in such directions as to move said thread away from the selvage, said one pair of gears moving the thread into said space and said other pair of gears thereafter moving the thread out of said space.

ELLIOT A. SANTON. 

